Furniture strut



a Q imdi April 1962 l. B. RACHMAN ETAL 3,029,115

FURNITURE STRUT Filed March 17, 1960 FIG. 5

INVENTORS ISADORE B. RACHMJAN SIDNEY BOBB BYMHW- ATTORNEY United States Patentbfiice 3,0Z9,l l Patented Apr. 10, 1952 3,029,115 FURNITURE STRUT Isadore B. Rachman and Sidney Bobb, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to All-Luminum Products, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 15,630

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-89) This invention relates to furniture struts, and more particularly to table legs for foldable tables.

Foldable tables are well known in the art and usually include a pair of identical table top portions hinged together. Each of the table top portions is usually provided with a supporting leg pivotably attached thereto. In order to stabilize the table, a supporting strut having one end pivotably secured to the supporting leg and its other end pivotably secured to the table top portion and riding in a track thereon is usually provided. An example of this type of foldable table is seen in Patent No. 2,542,- 394. The supporting legs are usually made of hollow aluminum and are provided with a hole therethrough for attachment with the supporting strut. Since the supporting legs are hollow, there is no support around the hole. Constant use of the table, causes the pin, which connects the supporting leg and the supporting strut, to tear the material of the leg beginning at the hole. Tearing of the hole in the supporting leg interferes with the proper manipulation of the leg and the bracket during the folding and unfolding of the table. Applicants invention is directed toward overcoming the above and other disad vantages of the prior art.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel fumiture strut.

It is another object of this invention to provide a furniture strut having an increased life span.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a foldable table.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view of a table leg of the table in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevational view of the table leg of table in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the table leg taken along lines 44 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 shows the table leg between the upper and lower platens of a crimping machine.

FIGURE 6 shows the table leg between the upper and lower platens of a crimping machine during the crimping operation.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, where like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 an elevational view of a foldable table set up for use.

The foldable table of FIGURE 1 is generally designated by the numeral 10. The foldable table comprises table top sections 12 and 14 hinged together by pin 16. Each table top section is provided with a generally U-shaped supporting leg 18 which is pivoted to the underside of each table top section by a pin which passes through a depending flange extending around the periphery of each table top portion and hole 19 in the supporting leg 1%. Each arm of the U-shaped supporting leg 18 is provided with a supporting strut 20. Supporting strut 20 is pivotably secured by pin 22 to an arm of the supporting leg 18 and has a pin 24 at its other end which rides in a track 26 on the inner side of the depending flange of each table top portion.

There is shown in FIGURE 2 a partial view of one arm of the U-shaped supporting leg ltl. The supporting leg 13 is made of hollow aluminum tubing and is provided with a transverse hole 28 therethrough. In the process of drilling hole 28, the point at which the hole intersects the periphery of the tubing is depressed as shown by numeral 32. The point at which hole 28 emerges from the opposite surface of the leg 18 is slight- 1y raised as shown at 36. Strut 20 is pivotably secured to one arm of the supporting leg 18 by a pin 22 which passes through hole 28 in one arm of the supporting leg 18. During constant use, pin 22 tears the hole 28 which interferes with the proper manipulation of strut 20 during its opening and closing movement.

It will be appreciated that the supporting leg 18 is made from hollow aluminum tubing having a wall thickness of approximately 5 of an inch. While the tearing of a hole is shown in the environment of a table leg, it should be noted that this problem exists in foldable chairs, step ladders, etc.

To prevent tearing of the hole 23, applicant has provided crimps 34 and 35 which extend. along the outer periphery of the supporting leg 18 between the points at which the hole enters and emerges from the periphery of the supporting leg 18. While the preferred embodiment shows a crimp along the outer periphery of the supporting leg 18, it will be appreciated that a crimp along the inner periphery may be provided. In that case, the outer periphery of the supporting leg 18 would have a dent extending therealong. The crimps 34 and 36 are cold worked into the material of the supporting leg 18, thereby strengthening this portion of the supporting leg 18 in the region of the hole 28.

As shown in FIGURE 4, it will be noted that crimps 34 and 36 are spaced 180 degrees apart from one another and each crimp being spaced degrees from the axis of hole 28. It will be appreciated that only one crimp may be provided if desired. Also, the angle between crimps 34, 36 and the axis of hole 28 may be decreased if desired.

FIGURE 5 shows one arm of supporting leg 18 mounted between upper platen 38 and lower platen 40 of a crimping machine. When upper platen 38 is brought down to its lowermost position adjacent lower platen 40, the die grooves 42 and 44 cold work the outer peripheral surface of the arm of the supporting leg 18 so as to provide a crimp therealong as shown in FIGURE 6. The provision of crimps 34 and 36 by cold working the metal has many advantages. Since only a portion of each arm of the supporting leg 18 is crimped, cold working is the most economical method. In addition, the hardness of the material around hole 28 has been increased.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a piece of furniture comprising first and second elongated support members, said first member being hollow and circular in transverse cross section, said first member having a radial hole therethrough, the outer peripheral surface of said first member in the region of said hole being provided with a cold worked crimp, said crimp extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first member between the points at which said hole intersects the periphery of said first member, pin means on the second member, said pin means extending through said hole, said pin means enabling said members to pivot relative to one another, whereby said crimp substantially reduces the tendency of said first member to tear adjacent said hole.

2. In a piece of furniture in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crimp extends along the periphery of said first member on each side of the points at which said hole intersects the periphery of said one member.

3. Apparatus comprising a table, said table including a support portion, a hollow table leg depending from said support portion, said leg being pivotably secured to said support portion, said leg being circular in transverse cross section, said leg having a transverse hole extending therethrough, a discrete crimp on the periphery of said leg in the region of said hole, said crimp extending generally axially over the periphery of said leg between the points where the hole intersects the periphery of said leg, said crimp having a length substantially greater than the diameter of said hole, a strut member, pin means extending through said hole and pivotably connecting said strut member to said leg, whereby said crimp prevents the tearing of said hole due to the pivotable movement of said strut member with respect to said leg.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Mueller et a1. June 16, 1914 Tilden July 3, 1923 Klein Jan. 18, 1938 Dickie et a1 Feb. 28, 1939 Burns Feb. 29, 1944 Lee et al May 8, 1945 Davidson Dec. 31, 1946 Cohen et a1 Feb. 20, 1951 Booth Apr. 10, 1951 Matthysse Nov. 27, 1951 Brown Dec. 11, 1951 Booth Feb. 26, 1952 Pucci June 30, 1953 1. JJE-WJ 

